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Da Vinci's Disciples #1
Portrait of a Conspiracy
In 15th century Florence, five women and a legendary artist weave together a dangerous plot that could bring peace - or get them all killed.
Seeking to wrest power from the Medici, members of the Pazzi family slay the beloved Giuliano. But Lorenzo de' Medici survives the attack and seeks revenge on everyone involved, plunging the city into murderous chaos. Bodies are dragged through the streets, and no one is safe.
Five women steal away to a church to ply their craft in secret. Viviana, Fiammetta, Isabetta, Natasia and Mattea are painters, not allowed to be public with their skill but freed from the restrictions in their lives by their art. When a sixth member of their group, Lapaccia, goes missing and is rumored to have stolen a much sought-after painting before she vanished, the women must venture out into the dangerous streets to find their friend.
They will have help from one of the most renowned painters of their era: the peaceful and kind Leonardo da Vinci. It is under his tutelage that they flourish as artists and with his access that they infiltrate some of the highest, most secretive places in Florence, unraveling one conspiracy as they build another in its place.
Vibrant and absorbing, Portrait Of A Conspiracy is the first novel in Donna Russo Morin's Da Vinci's Disciples series.
Seeking to wrest power from the Medici, members of the Pazzi family slay the beloved Giuliano. But Lorenzo de' Medici survives the attack and seeks revenge on everyone involved, plunging the city into murderous chaos. Bodies are dragged through the streets, and no one is safe.
Five women steal away to a church to ply their craft in secret. Viviana, Fiammetta, Isabetta, Natasia and Mattea are painters, not allowed to be public with their skill but freed from the restrictions in their lives by their art. When a sixth member of their group, Lapaccia, goes missing and is rumored to have stolen a much sought-after painting before she vanished, the women must venture out into the dangerous streets to find their friend.
They will have help from one of the most renowned painters of their era: the peaceful and kind Leonardo da Vinci. It is under his tutelage that they flourish as artists and with his access that they infiltrate some of the highest, most secretive places in Florence, unraveling one conspiracy as they build another in its place.
Vibrant and absorbing, Portrait Of A Conspiracy is the first novel in Donna Russo Morin's Da Vinci's Disciples series.
362 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 10, 2016
49 people are currently reading
1682 people want to read
About the author
Donna Russo Morin
18 books486 followersDonna Russo is a bestselling author of historical, biographical, and women's fiction, as well as fantasy. She has made a significant impact in the literary world with her detailed writing and compelling characters. Her notable works include multi-award-winning Vincent’s Women and her internationally bestselling Novels of Newport: Gilded Age series, Gilded Summers and Gilded Dreams. Her historical fantasy, The King’s Agent, earned a starred review in Publisher’s Weekly.
An award-winning screenwriter, ghostwriter, and artist, Donna has over thirty years of experience as a certified book coach and has been a writing instructor for Writer’s Digest for over a decade. Donna has also worked as an actor and model with appearances in such notable works as Martin Scorsese’s THE DEPARTED and Showtimes THE BROTHERHOOD. Donna is also one of the oldest practicing yoga aerialists in the country. www.authordonnarusso.com
Donna enjoys meeting with book groups in person and via Skype chat. Visit her website at www.donnarussomorin.com;
friend her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Donna.Russo.M...
Follow her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/donnarussom...
Follow her on Twitter @DonnaRussoMorin.
An award-winning screenwriter, ghostwriter, and artist, Donna has over thirty years of experience as a certified book coach and has been a writing instructor for Writer’s Digest for over a decade. Donna has also worked as an actor and model with appearances in such notable works as Martin Scorsese’s THE DEPARTED and Showtimes THE BROTHERHOOD. Donna is also one of the oldest practicing yoga aerialists in the country. www.authordonnarusso.com
Donna enjoys meeting with book groups in person and via Skype chat. Visit her website at www.donnarussomorin.com;
friend her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Donna.Russo.M...
Follow her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/donnarussom...
Follow her on Twitter @DonnaRussoMorin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
February 12, 2016
Donna Russo Morin takes us on an irresistible headlong adventure in PORTRAIT OF A CONSPIRACY. When a ruthless assassination rocks Renaissance Florence to its core, a secret sisterhood of women artists band together to save one of their own from the bloody reprisals. Illicit plots, mysterious paintings, and a young Leonardo da Vinci all have their part to play in this delicious, heart-pounding tale. This one had me yearning for the Renaissance all over again!
December 18, 2018
How can I be fair to the ratings of this book when I simply disliked so very many things about this historical novel. Let's call it 3 stars for attempt at portraying stuff that couldn't have happened. Never mind, that would be too dishonest. One it is.
Five women from varying socio-economic backgrounds in Renaissance Florence under tutelage of Leonard da Vinci enabling them to pursue their desire to paint whilst being under suspicion along with all the rest of the population for siding against the ruling Medici? Whilst watching a husband tortured and publicly killed and then having a little chat with sons of said father in celebration of the removal of this beastly husband/father and then chatting it up with women friends about how good it would be to make love with a loving man. Can anyone say Italian soap opera? Or...this could have happened in religious times of fear and obeisance?
And the story continues for three books. The middle book was not on shelf, so I came home with books 1 and 3...Not working. Book 3 presents a Florence with Lorenzo de Medici dead and son Pieto causing war and famine...and then The Flames of Florence. That's people, going poof!
I would not be mocking this series if the characters were believable, but they do not speak to me. I did read many reviews praising these books, but I think I will take a pass on this author.
Five women from varying socio-economic backgrounds in Renaissance Florence under tutelage of Leonard da Vinci enabling them to pursue their desire to paint whilst being under suspicion along with all the rest of the population for siding against the ruling Medici? Whilst watching a husband tortured and publicly killed and then having a little chat with sons of said father in celebration of the removal of this beastly husband/father and then chatting it up with women friends about how good it would be to make love with a loving man. Can anyone say Italian soap opera? Or...this could have happened in religious times of fear and obeisance?
And the story continues for three books. The middle book was not on shelf, so I came home with books 1 and 3...Not working. Book 3 presents a Florence with Lorenzo de Medici dead and son Pieto causing war and famine...and then The Flames of Florence. That's people, going poof!
I would not be mocking this series if the characters were believable, but they do not speak to me. I did read many reviews praising these books, but I think I will take a pass on this author.
May 30, 2016
"Portrait of a Conspiracy" is the first book in a new series by Donna Russo Morin. It follows several women who yearn to be artists. Unfortunately because of the time they live in, the Renaissance in Florence, they cannot practice their art openly. A very public murder rocks their world and threatens the society of Florence. These women find themselves in the center of it and will do anything to try to make things better and protect those close to them.
Viviana, Fiammetta, Isabetta, Natasia, and Mattea are fantastic characters. At first, I was a little leery of having so many main characters but Morin does an amazing job of creating a unique voice for each woman. You may have noticed that the series is called Da Vinci's Disciples and Leonardo Da Vinci (one of my personal favorites) does make an appearance in this book. I appreciated that even though he is a larger than life character and plays a great role in the book, the author still lets the women be the stars of the show. Da Vinci plays a more backseat role, which was great to see.
The writing of the book was good. The mystery at the center of the story was nice and tight and very exciting. While this is a series, I felt some closure at the end of this book, which was nice. There are enough things that I am still wondering about though to keep me excited about reading the next book. I so want to get back to these characters! Overall, this was an exciting read that put me in the center of Renaissance Italy.
Viviana, Fiammetta, Isabetta, Natasia, and Mattea are fantastic characters. At first, I was a little leery of having so many main characters but Morin does an amazing job of creating a unique voice for each woman. You may have noticed that the series is called Da Vinci's Disciples and Leonardo Da Vinci (one of my personal favorites) does make an appearance in this book. I appreciated that even though he is a larger than life character and plays a great role in the book, the author still lets the women be the stars of the show. Da Vinci plays a more backseat role, which was great to see.
The writing of the book was good. The mystery at the center of the story was nice and tight and very exciting. While this is a series, I felt some closure at the end of this book, which was nice. There are enough things that I am still wondering about though to keep me excited about reading the next book. I so want to get back to these characters! Overall, this was an exciting read that put me in the center of Renaissance Italy.
May 13, 2016
I was so excited to hear that Donna Russo Morin was embarking on a new mystery series featuring female artists and Leonardo da Vinci in Renaissance Italy. While I have liked some of her books better than others, she is always a must-read author for me, and I was not disappointed in this exciting first installment of Da Vinci's Disciples, in which a society of female artists, six in number, of different ages and backgrounds, meet in secret to practice their craft during a time when a woman belonged in only two places: the home or the church.
The story starts off with a horrific, edge-of-your seat depiction of the assassination of Giuliano de' Medici, the Golden Boy, beloved younger brother of Lorenzo de' Medici—Il Magnifico, with two of the women, Viviana and Fiammetta, right in the thick of it. This murder, committed before thousands of people—in a church, no less—sets off a period of vengeance and unrest that has the entire city of Florence holding its breath, fearful of what the future holds. With food scarce, roving bands of hoodlums prowling the streets, and soldiers systematically dragging accused conspirators from their homes for swift and gruesome public executions, Florence is a city on the edge. But for these women, forgoing the release of their passions via their art is not an option, and it's not something they can do at home, so each bravely ventures out to their secret studio. But one fails to arrive.
Soon the whole city knows that a mysterious portrait that had recently been put on public display, now believed to depict the men behind the assassination, has gone missing, and one of their beloved sisters with it. What on earth could have possessed timid widow and devoted mother Lapaccia to insert herself into a bloodbath of political vengeance? The other women are determined to find out, and with the help of their new ally, Leonardo da Vinci, they set about recreating the missing painting from their sketches to uncover its secrets while using their society connections to keep abreast of any news that might help them bring their friend home safe. But will they be prepared for what is revealed? With Il Magnifico's witch hunt closing in, all of their lives are in danger as they race to solve the mystery before it's too late.
Once again, Donna Russo Morin's ability to bring the past to life is in top form. The historical description is lush and evocative, and she does not shy away from depicting the horrors of a city seized by madness, nearly all of it taken straight from the historical record. And at times the prose is almost lyrical. In this story, Viviana, Isabetta, and Mattea take on more featured roles, and through their eyes we see Florence and her people, the redemptive power of art, and the bittersweetness of star-crossed love. While Leonardo is a point-of-view character, I was pleased to see that he never dominated the story. This is very much the women's tale, with Leonardo as a source of support and encouragement. My only complaints are that I found the point of view to be a little jumpy, and I am a reader that prefers tight, deep points of view, and I found the narrative a little too heavy on the technical descriptions of art. I tended to skim over those bits. And I confess to being a little shocked at some actions and sentiments of the two women whose husbands have made their lives difficult, but there was little time to examine the moral implications as the story ripped right along from one exciting twist to another.
While the central mystery was resolved in this book, personal threads are still in play for all of the women, to be played out in future books, and I am very much looking forward to reading them. Portrait of a Conspiracy is a gripping, gritty, sensual tale of love, art, revenge, and the bonds of sisterhood. A great start to a new series, sure to please fans of historical mystery, Italian fiction, and art history.
The story starts off with a horrific, edge-of-your seat depiction of the assassination of Giuliano de' Medici, the Golden Boy, beloved younger brother of Lorenzo de' Medici—Il Magnifico, with two of the women, Viviana and Fiammetta, right in the thick of it. This murder, committed before thousands of people—in a church, no less—sets off a period of vengeance and unrest that has the entire city of Florence holding its breath, fearful of what the future holds. With food scarce, roving bands of hoodlums prowling the streets, and soldiers systematically dragging accused conspirators from their homes for swift and gruesome public executions, Florence is a city on the edge. But for these women, forgoing the release of their passions via their art is not an option, and it's not something they can do at home, so each bravely ventures out to their secret studio. But one fails to arrive.
Soon the whole city knows that a mysterious portrait that had recently been put on public display, now believed to depict the men behind the assassination, has gone missing, and one of their beloved sisters with it. What on earth could have possessed timid widow and devoted mother Lapaccia to insert herself into a bloodbath of political vengeance? The other women are determined to find out, and with the help of their new ally, Leonardo da Vinci, they set about recreating the missing painting from their sketches to uncover its secrets while using their society connections to keep abreast of any news that might help them bring their friend home safe. But will they be prepared for what is revealed? With Il Magnifico's witch hunt closing in, all of their lives are in danger as they race to solve the mystery before it's too late.
Once again, Donna Russo Morin's ability to bring the past to life is in top form. The historical description is lush and evocative, and she does not shy away from depicting the horrors of a city seized by madness, nearly all of it taken straight from the historical record. And at times the prose is almost lyrical. In this story, Viviana, Isabetta, and Mattea take on more featured roles, and through their eyes we see Florence and her people, the redemptive power of art, and the bittersweetness of star-crossed love. While Leonardo is a point-of-view character, I was pleased to see that he never dominated the story. This is very much the women's tale, with Leonardo as a source of support and encouragement. My only complaints are that I found the point of view to be a little jumpy, and I am a reader that prefers tight, deep points of view, and I found the narrative a little too heavy on the technical descriptions of art. I tended to skim over those bits. And I confess to being a little shocked at some actions and sentiments of the two women whose husbands have made their lives difficult, but there was little time to examine the moral implications as the story ripped right along from one exciting twist to another.
While the central mystery was resolved in this book, personal threads are still in play for all of the women, to be played out in future books, and I am very much looking forward to reading them. Portrait of a Conspiracy is a gripping, gritty, sensual tale of love, art, revenge, and the bonds of sisterhood. A great start to a new series, sure to please fans of historical mystery, Italian fiction, and art history.
January 3, 2020
I was torn between giving 2 .5 or 3 stars to this one, so maybe, it is deserving of a 2.8?
So, to sum up the plot, the story follows a group of women who, against to 15th century expectations of women, have formed their own "arts n' crafts club" where they express their passion for painting. Unfortunatelly, they live in 15th century Florence, which means that they happen to witness the horror of the Pazzi conspirancy and it's aftermath. When Lorenzo de Medici begins to hunt down those who had a part in his brother's death, one of the group's women goes missing along with a painting that is believed to show the faces of the conspirators. The rest of the team, in order to reconstruct it, so that the bloodshed may stop, befriend Leonardo Da Vinci and form an unlikely bond.
You have no idea how excited I was to finally get my hands on this series. I like historical fiction and I have a soft spot in my heart for Renaissance Italy. So, a story with Da Vinci, the Medicis and afictional group of women artists sound like a good combination, right?
Well, not exactly...
The writing wasn't horrible BUT pretty much everything felt/was underdeveloped.
The women were so plain that for the first half of the book, I had a hard time telling who's who. As for the other characters, well, they were not really fleshed out either. Same as their relationship to each other. For example, I couldn't see any real love between Da Vinci and the women crushing on him. I couldn't see real friendship between the members of the group. I couldn't see any real love in the familiar relationships presented in this book and so on.
I couldn't sympathize or form any bond at all with any of the characters and to be honest I didn't really care for the fictional ones making it to the end alive.
The action was meh and there were chapters that were so out of place and unexpected that I honestly couldn't tell if I had skipped a chapter or was simply an idiot.
Overall this was a disappointing and unremarkable book that crushed any expectation but hey, at least it was short!
At some point I may read the 2nd one to see if it gets better but if it does not, I don't know if I will be reading the final book.
If you made it this far, congratulations! This time I tried to keep the review a bit shorter and it's funny because what helped was that it was such a "Meh" book.
<'Till next time, take care :)
So, to sum up the plot, the story follows a group of women who, against to 15th century expectations of women, have formed their own "arts n' crafts club" where they express their passion for painting. Unfortunatelly, they live in 15th century Florence, which means that they happen to witness the horror of the Pazzi conspirancy and it's aftermath. When Lorenzo de Medici begins to hunt down those who had a part in his brother's death, one of the group's women goes missing along with a painting that is believed to show the faces of the conspirators. The rest of the team, in order to reconstruct it, so that the bloodshed may stop, befriend Leonardo Da Vinci and form an unlikely bond.
You have no idea how excited I was to finally get my hands on this series. I like historical fiction and I have a soft spot in my heart for Renaissance Italy. So, a story with Da Vinci, the Medicis and a
Well, not exactly...
The writing wasn't horrible BUT pretty much everything felt/was underdeveloped.
The women were so plain that for the first half of the book, I had a hard time telling who's who. As for the other characters, well, they were not really fleshed out either. Same as their relationship to each other. For example, I couldn't see any real love between Da Vinci and the women crushing on him. I couldn't see real friendship between the members of the group. I couldn't see any real love in the familiar relationships presented in this book and so on.
I couldn't sympathize or form any bond at all with any of the characters and to be honest I didn't really care for the fictional ones making it to the end alive.
The action was meh and there were chapters that were so out of place and unexpected that I honestly couldn't tell if I had skipped a chapter or was simply an idiot.
Overall this was a disappointing and unremarkable book that crushed any expectation but hey, at least it was short!
At some point I may read the 2nd one to see if it gets better but if it does not, I don't know if I will be reading the final book.
If you made it this far, congratulations! This time I tried to keep the review a bit shorter and it's funny because what helped was that it was such a "Meh" book.
<'Till next time, take care :)
July 20, 2016
My initial gut reaction is "Wow, what a book!" It appeals to me on many levels: my preference for Italian historical fiction set during the Renaissance, great writing, and stories that border a bit on the dark side. From its first page to last, I throughly loved the story. It is a tale of 5 women who are artists and who must secretly hone their talent. Enter Leonardo da Vinci who befriends the women and becomes their secret tutor.
The story opens with attempted murder of L|orenzo de Medici and the murder of Giuliano de Medici. Donna Russo Morin brings this opening scene to life with vivid, shocking detail. She also does not shy away from describing the brutality of the ongoing aftermath when the de Medici family seek revenge against the Pazzi loyalists and conspiracies. The five women soon find themselves surrounded by danger as one of them goes missing with an important painting. Together, they band together to save their friend.
I love great women's historical fiction and Donna Russo Morin does a wonderful job with describing the plight of women during this very dangerous era. At the end of the book, she describes what was fact and what was fictional in the story. And there's a wonderful Reader's Guide that is great for book clubs. This is a five star read and I highly recommend it to avid lovers of history.
Thank you to the author and publisher. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for visiting my blog, http://greathistoricals.blogspot.ca, where the greatest historical fiction is reviewed! For fascinating women of history bios and women's fiction please visit http://www.historyandwomen.com.
The story opens with attempted murder of L|orenzo de Medici and the murder of Giuliano de Medici. Donna Russo Morin brings this opening scene to life with vivid, shocking detail. She also does not shy away from describing the brutality of the ongoing aftermath when the de Medici family seek revenge against the Pazzi loyalists and conspiracies. The five women soon find themselves surrounded by danger as one of them goes missing with an important painting. Together, they band together to save their friend.
I love great women's historical fiction and Donna Russo Morin does a wonderful job with describing the plight of women during this very dangerous era. At the end of the book, she describes what was fact and what was fictional in the story. And there's a wonderful Reader's Guide that is great for book clubs. This is a five star read and I highly recommend it to avid lovers of history.
Thank you to the author and publisher. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for visiting my blog, http://greathistoricals.blogspot.ca, where the greatest historical fiction is reviewed! For fascinating women of history bios and women's fiction please visit http://www.historyandwomen.com.
July 19, 2020
Този тип романи бяха едни от началните книги, които започнах да чета когато се върнах към активното четене. Имам доста такива книги и всяка една е успяла да ме грабне с историята си. Въпреки това си признавам че от много дълго време ги бях изоставила и то без основателна причина. Тази книга стоеше във "любими продукти" в сайта на Озон, където си събирам книгите, които искам да си взема.
Подтикната от сериала, "Медичи: Господарите на Флоренция" с участието на Ричард Мадън и Дъстин Хофман, реших че й е дошло най-накрая времето да я прочета. Между другото, сериала е страхотен и трите сезона са страшно добри, интересни, а актьорският състав е просто брутален. (третият мисля че го излъчват в момента)
Та да се върна към книгата...
В нея се разказва за шест жени, които се занимават с нещо толкова красиво и все пак за времето в което живеят, много опасн��. И шестте героини имат едно общо нещо и това е страстта им към рисуването, но през 1478г. и то на място като Флоренция, където, великите меценати Медичи са любители и покровители на изкуството - то жените нямат право да практикуват това и съответно, всичко което правят е тайно и много опасно.
Имаме няколко важни момента, които съответно водят и развитието на цялата история. Разбира се фокуса тук са шестте жени и тяхната любов към рисуването. Връзката между това тяхно начинание и тази така наречена конспирация, разбира се са самите Медичи.
Един съвсем обикновен наглед ден е на път да се превърне в преломен момент за всички. Цяла Флоренция се събира за дневната литургия за Възнесение Христово и разбира се Великолепни и цялата фамилия Медичи ще бъдат там.
Вивиана, Изабета, Матея и останалите жени от тайната група на художничките също са във величествената катедрала "Санта Мария дел Фиоре". Споменавам ви само тези три жени, по-имена тъй като те са най-главните ни героини от шестте, а Вивиана е на първа линия. Също така самата тя предусеща, че нещо не е наред, докато изведнъж то не се случва, а именно убийството на Джулиано де Медичи. Буквално настава пълна анархия, цялата катедрала е озвучена от виковете на флорентинци, Лоренцо Великолепни е освирепял, а ние заедно с Вивиана, на мига разбираме кой е извършителя или пък не.
Същия ден изчезва и една мадона от тайната група на художничките - Лапача Кавалканти и картината от Палацо дела Синьория на която се смята че са изобразени всички участници във заговора срещу Медиците и убийството на Джулиано.
Лапача бива обвинена като участничка в заговора и всички са убедени че тя трябва да бъде намерена и съдена за това, а Вивиана и другите жени са на противоположното мнение. Сигурни че трябва да има основателна причина да е откраднала картината и избягала, жените се обединяват за пореден път - първо да възстановят картината, чрез техните скици и спомени и второ да намерят Лапача и разберат каква всъщност е истината и дали не предпазва някой близък. Разбира се тъй като това с което са решили да се заемат, никак не е лесно и в техния случай забранено, съвсем безкористно на помощ им се притичва легендарният Леонардо да Винчи.
Повече не мисля да разкривам сюжета, затова продължавам нататък с мнението си.
Историята която авторката е написала, ни показва как в времена когато цялата власт е в ръцете на мъжете, а жените нямат никаква друга функция освен да бъдат красиви и да се грижат за това да ги дарят с наследник, шест жени, макар и тайно успяват да им се противопоставят. Водени единствено от страстта си към рисуването, те успяват да възстановят една толкова важна картина, която се оказва и отговора на заговора срещу Медичите. Показват ни че и те имат право на глас, право да се занимават с неща с които се занимават мъжете и че всъщност могат да им бъдат равни че и по-добри. Авторката е пресъздала по-изключително интересен начин любовта към изкуството и как човек може да гори за любимото си хоби, включила е толкова малки, но все пак важни детайли.
Следващото нещо което много ме впечатли бе това как Марин е успяла да съчетае доста голямата база от исторически случки и персонажи с измислените от нея такива, за да се появи крайният вариант на романа.
Като една идея по-силни страници, ще отбележа последните 50-60, тогава започваме да получаваме доста отговори на изникнали въпроси в началото и за мен мога да кажа че бяха доста изненадващи и неочаквани.
Последното което няма как да не отбележа е изключително красивата корица, тя е дело на Габриела Стайкова. На долната страна е изобразена известната катедрала, заедно със Кулата на Джото, а на горната част от корицата има една прекрасна палитра от цветове. Влюбих се от първия път когато я погледнах, има нещо в нея което не мога да опиша.
" - Красотата и нейното сътворение не правят разлика между мъже и жени, нито кой е техният създател, само позволяват да бъдат сътворени. Най-голямата заблуда за умовете на хората са техните собствени предразсъдъци! - изрече Леонардо и с вцепенено, напълно сериозно изражение завърши: - Ще пазя тайната ви като никоя друга на света! Кълна се!"
" - Придобиването на познания е изключително полезно за интелекта - отговори с мелодичния си глас той. - Безполезното може да бъде отхвърлено, доброто - запазено. Не можем нито да обичаме, нито да мразим истински нещо, докато не го опознаем поне мъничко.
- Но ти нали вече знаеш какво точно обичащ? - намеси се Изабета.
- Така е, ала онова, което обичам, непрекъснато се променя, както и занаятът на рисуването! - подчерта Леонардо. - Тъжен е онзи ученик, който не надмине своя учител!"
" Вивиана знаеше, че тази стълба би могла да води само към едно място - към Албергетино, малката затворническа килия в издадената страна на кулата, иронично наречена "Малкия хотел", в която някога е бил хвърлен дядото на Лоренцо - Козимо де Медичи, преди да бъде изпратен в краткото си изгнаничество."
"Накрая Вивиана не издържа и извика:
- Тишина! Всички млъкнете! - засвяткаха възмутено сините й очи. - Не става въпрос само за тази картина! Не става въпрос дори само за Лапача. Би могла да бъде всяка ор нас, по всяко време. Не забравяйте обаче, че светът навън е полудял, а аз не желая да го виждам как продължава да се разкъсва! Не забравяйте и че ние се радваме на много повече късмет от всички жени там, защото имаме смислена и значима цел! А смислената цел е най-великата мисия за всеки човек, независимо дали е мъж или жена. Значимата ни цел в момента е да спасим един живот. Никой живот не е по-важен от друг, защото човешкият живот няма цена.
Няма цена и лоялността!"
" - През последните двеста години Медичите са въоръжили отлично този град и поддържат силна армия! - продължи Вивиана. - Бракове, търговия - контролират всичко. Чудно ли е тогава, че са си създали толкова врагове? - Поклати глава. - Но са по-цивилизовани от Паците! Да не би да наричаш цивилизован техния отговор на издигането на Медичите, а? Цивилизованите хора не извършват брутално убийство в Божия храм! Да се вдигнат на бунт - да. Да се опитат да използват същата система, за да си върнат контрола - да. Но хладнокръвно убийство... - Вивиана позеленя при спомена за видяното. - Само въплъщение на злото би могло да извърши подобно зверство!"
" - Мъжете си мислят, че само те са силни на този свят - обади се по едно време Изабета и всички я изгледаха заинтригувано. - Може привидно да е така. Но стореното от нас през последните месеци доказва, че на този свят няма по-голяма сила от силата на обединените в обща кауза жени!
- Питам се какво ли би станало със света, ако жените си даваха сметка за това? - прошепна Лапача.
Вивиана се усмихна. Тя усещаше радостта от общата им сила дори в кръвта, течаща през вените й.
- Представяте ли си какво би станало, а? - възкликна замечтано."
--- --- --- --- ---
Благодаря Ви, за отделеното време!!!
Подтикната от сериала, "Медичи: Господарите на Флоренция" с участието на Ричард Мадън и Дъстин Хофман, реших че й е дошло най-накрая времето да я прочета. Между другото, сериала е страхотен и трите сезона са страшно добри, интересни, а актьорският състав е просто брутален. (третият мисля че го излъчват в момента)
Та да се върна към книгата...
В нея се разказва за шест жени, които се занимават с нещо толкова красиво и все пак за времето в което живеят, много опасн��. И шестте героини имат едно общо нещо и това е страстта им към рисуването, но през 1478г. и то на място като Флоренция, където, великите меценати Медичи са любители и покровители на изкуството - то жените нямат право да практикуват това и съответно, всичко което правят е тайно и много опасно.
Имаме няколко важни момента, които съответно водят и развитието на цялата история. Разбира се фокуса тук са шестте жени и тяхната любов към рисуването. Връзката между това тяхно начинание и тази така наречена конспирация, разбира се са самите Медичи.
Един съвсем обикновен наглед ден е на път да се превърне в преломен момент за всички. Цяла Флоренция се събира за дневната литургия за Възнесение Христово и разбира се Великолепни и цялата фамилия Медичи ще бъдат там.
Вивиана, Изабета, Матея и останалите жени от тайната група на художничките също са във величествената катедрала "Санта Мария дел Фиоре". Споменавам ви само тези три жени, по-имена тъй като те са най-главните ни героини от шестте, а Вивиана е на първа линия. Също така самата тя предусеща, че нещо не е наред, докато изведнъж то не се случва, а именно убийството на Джулиано де Медичи. Буквално настава пълна анархия, цялата катедрала е озвучена от виковете на флорентинци, Лоренцо Великолепни е освирепял, а ние заедно с Вивиана, на мига разбираме кой е извършителя или пък не.
Същия ден изчезва и една мадона от тайната група на художничките - Лапача Кавалканти и картината от Палацо дела Синьория на която се смята че са изобразени всички участници във заговора срещу Медиците и убийството на Джулиано.
Лапача бива обвинена като участничка в заговора и всички са убедени че тя трябва да бъде намерена и съдена за това, а Вивиана и другите жени са на противоположното мнение. Сигурни че трябва да има основателна причина да е откраднала картината и избягала, жените се обединяват за пореден път - първо да възстановят картината, чрез техните скици и спомени и второ да намерят Лапача и разберат каква всъщност е истината и дали не предпазва някой близък. Разбира се тъй като това с което са решили да се заемат, никак не е лесно и в техния случай забранено, съвсем безкористно на помощ им се притичва легендарният Леонардо да Винчи.
Повече не мисля да разкривам сюжета, затова продължавам нататък с мнението си.
Историята която авторката е написала, ни показва как в времена когато цялата власт е в ръцете на мъжете, а жените нямат никаква друга функция освен да бъдат красиви и да се грижат за това да ги дарят с наследник, шест жени, макар и тайно успяват да им се противопоставят. Водени единствено от страстта си към рисуването, те успяват да възстановят една толкова важна картина, която се оказва и отговора на заговора срещу Медичите. Показват ни че и те имат право на глас, право да се занимават с неща с които се занимават мъжете и че всъщност могат да им бъдат равни че и по-добри. Авторката е пресъздала по-изключително интересен начин любовта към изкуството и как човек може да гори за любимото си хоби, включила е толкова малки, но все пак важни детайли.
Следващото нещо което много ме впечатли бе това как Марин е успяла да съчетае доста голямата база от исторически случки и персонажи с измислените от нея такива, за да се появи крайният вариант на романа.
Като една идея по-силни страници, ще отбележа последните 50-60, тогава започваме да получаваме доста отговори на изникнали въпроси в началото и за мен мога да кажа че бяха доста изненадващи и неочаквани.
Последното което няма как да не отбележа е изключително красивата корица, тя е дело на Габриела Стайкова. На долната страна е изобразена известната катедрала, заедно със Кулата на Джото, а на горната част от корицата има една прекрасна палитра от цветове. Влюбих се от първия път когато я погледнах, има нещо в нея което не мога да опиша.
" - Красотата и нейното сътворение не правят разлика между мъже и жени, нито кой е техният създател, само позволяват да бъдат сътворени. Най-голямата заблуда за умовете на хората са техните собствени предразсъдъци! - изрече Леонардо и с вцепенено, напълно сериозно изражение завърши: - Ще пазя тайната ви като никоя друга на света! Кълна се!"
" - Придобиването на познания е изключително полезно за интелекта - отговори с мелодичния си глас той. - Безполезното може да бъде отхвърлено, доброто - запазено. Не можем нито да обичаме, нито да мразим истински нещо, докато не го опознаем поне мъничко.
- Но ти нали вече знаеш какво точно обичащ? - намеси се Изабета.
- Така е, ала онова, което обичам, непрекъснато се променя, както и занаятът на рисуването! - подчерта Леонардо. - Тъжен е онзи ученик, който не надмине своя учител!"
" Вивиана знаеше, че тази стълба би могла да води само към едно място - към Албергетино, малката затворническа килия в издадената страна на кулата, иронично наречена "Малкия хотел", в която някога е бил хвърлен дядото на Лоренцо - Козимо де Медичи, преди да бъде изпратен в краткото си изгнаничество."
"Накрая Вивиана не издържа и извика:
- Тишина! Всички млъкнете! - засвяткаха възмутено сините й очи. - Не става въпрос само за тази картина! Не става въпрос дори само за Лапача. Би могла да бъде всяка ор нас, по всяко време. Не забравяйте обаче, че светът навън е полудял, а аз не желая да го виждам как продължава да се разкъсва! Не забравяйте и че ние се радваме на много повече късмет от всички жени там, защото имаме смислена и значима цел! А смислената цел е най-великата мисия за всеки човек, независимо дали е мъж или жена. Значимата ни цел в момента е да спасим един живот. Никой живот не е по-важен от друг, защото човешкият живот няма цена.
Няма цена и лоялността!"
" - През последните двеста години Медичите са въоръжили отлично този град и поддържат силна армия! - продължи Вивиана. - Бракове, търговия - контролират всичко. Чудно ли е тогава, че са си създали толкова врагове? - Поклати глава. - Но са по-цивилизовани от Паците! Да не би да наричаш цивилизован техния отговор на издигането на Медичите, а? Цивилизованите хора не извършват брутално убийство в Божия храм! Да се вдигнат на бунт - да. Да се опитат да използват същата система, за да си върнат контрола - да. Но хладнокръвно убийство... - Вивиана позеленя при спомена за видяното. - Само въплъщение на злото би могло да извърши подобно зверство!"
" - Мъжете си мислят, че само те са силни на този свят - обади се по едно време Изабета и всички я изгледаха заинтригувано. - Може привидно да е така. Но стореното от нас през последните месеци доказва, че на този свят няма по-голяма сила от силата на обединените в обща кауза жени!
- Питам се какво ли би станало със света, ако жените си даваха сметка за това? - прошепна Лапача.
Вивиана се усмихна. Тя усещаше радостта от общата им сила дори в кръвта, течаща през вените й.
- Представяте ли си какво би станало, а? - възкликна замечтано."
--- --- --- --- ---
Благодаря Ви, за отделеното време!!!
May 11, 2016
The story that Donna Russo Morin crafts in Portrait of a Conspiracy is a little bit of a mystery, a little bit of a women’s history lesson, and a little bit of a study of art. Immediately from the first pages of the novel you are sucked into the drama of an assassination and as the pages turn more of the plot behind the assassination unfolds. The five core women of this story get caught up in all of the drama not only because it is happening in their great city and it effects everyone to some extent, but also because one of their own is seemingly implicated in the plot in some manner and they are trying to find and protect their friend before the law does. At this time, women were not in power, so they must find her using the methods available to women, which makes things a little bit trickier. At the same time, they must work to keep their small art group a secret, which is a challenge when the people in power are turning over every stone looking for the perpetrators of the assassination. There is quite a lot going on here!
Overall, I feel that the plot of the novel was well thought-out and well-paced. There was never a sense of the objective being lost even though these characters endure some life events that run alongside the main story of the assassination plot and finding their missing friend. It imitated life in that you can never have a sole focus because life gets in the way – and especially when you are trying to coordinate a group of women it can become a challenge as personalities can get in the way!
There was certainly a lot of attention paid to learning about and detailing the creation of art. These women have their own art studio and we are privy to their creation of their works. In their quest they also study and witness other art being created. It is clear that the author spent a lot of time researching methods of painting and it make the novel that much richer in detail.
Morin is an expert at bringing the setting to life, in this case the city of Florence. I have never been to Florence, or even Italy for that matter, but I felt like I was living and breathing it right along with the characters – from the grimy walls a dark alley, to the smells of death and decay in the plaza, to the plush luxury of the upper class homes.
There is a large cast of characters here – at the very least there are 6 women, their husbands/children, Leonardo da Vinci, and several people of power and influence. Although a dramatis personae is included in the front of the novel, I forgot about this and struggled through most of the novel to remember which name belonged to which woman and from what walk of life she was from. Various sections of the book are told from different perspectives and I found it hard to keep track of who was who – so I recommend you keep the character profiles in front of you! Morin well fleshes out her characters and each is a unique character – I just couldn’t keep them all straight.
There was one thing that kept me from rating this novel higher and this was that at times the narrative became a little bit dense, especially in the first half of it. The most glaring example of this was the inclusion of practically every street that the women covered during their treks around the city; it was something that I began to frequently notice and it slowed down my pace. While I think the author wanted to give a detailed description of their paths through the city I think that it became a little too much and would have benefited from a lighter hand at the street name dropping.
I’m looking forward to seeing how the rest of this series plays out. I am curious if there will be another mystery/thriller angle in the next book or if it will be more focused on their quest to bring women’s art to the fore.
This review was also posted at The Maiden's Court blog and was received in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, I feel that the plot of the novel was well thought-out and well-paced. There was never a sense of the objective being lost even though these characters endure some life events that run alongside the main story of the assassination plot and finding their missing friend. It imitated life in that you can never have a sole focus because life gets in the way – and especially when you are trying to coordinate a group of women it can become a challenge as personalities can get in the way!
There was certainly a lot of attention paid to learning about and detailing the creation of art. These women have their own art studio and we are privy to their creation of their works. In their quest they also study and witness other art being created. It is clear that the author spent a lot of time researching methods of painting and it make the novel that much richer in detail.
Morin is an expert at bringing the setting to life, in this case the city of Florence. I have never been to Florence, or even Italy for that matter, but I felt like I was living and breathing it right along with the characters – from the grimy walls a dark alley, to the smells of death and decay in the plaza, to the plush luxury of the upper class homes.
There is a large cast of characters here – at the very least there are 6 women, their husbands/children, Leonardo da Vinci, and several people of power and influence. Although a dramatis personae is included in the front of the novel, I forgot about this and struggled through most of the novel to remember which name belonged to which woman and from what walk of life she was from. Various sections of the book are told from different perspectives and I found it hard to keep track of who was who – so I recommend you keep the character profiles in front of you! Morin well fleshes out her characters and each is a unique character – I just couldn’t keep them all straight.
There was one thing that kept me from rating this novel higher and this was that at times the narrative became a little bit dense, especially in the first half of it. The most glaring example of this was the inclusion of practically every street that the women covered during their treks around the city; it was something that I began to frequently notice and it slowed down my pace. While I think the author wanted to give a detailed description of their paths through the city I think that it became a little too much and would have benefited from a lighter hand at the street name dropping.
I’m looking forward to seeing how the rest of this series plays out. I am curious if there will be another mystery/thriller angle in the next book or if it will be more focused on their quest to bring women’s art to the fore.
This review was also posted at The Maiden's Court blog and was received in exchange for an honest review.
February 22, 2018
A compelling, vivid portrait of Renaissance Florence during the days after the infamous Pazzi Conspiracy. The relationship between the women of the artists' group felt very real to me, and some of their conversations are not too far off from things modern women discuss. A fascinating imagination of what life must have been like for women who dared to be artists during this time in history.
May 19, 2016
I was very excited for this new novel, Portrait of a Conspiracy, the start to a new series called Da Vinci’s Disciples, from Donna Russo Morin. She writes with such an elegant hand and entertains with marvelous stories.
Portrait of a Conspiracy is a bit different in overall to her other works in French or Italian courts, but she is no newbie to intrigue, spies, art or all of that sort of suspense and culture that makes me want to read books.
In this book, Donna begins it in brutal form with a murder and chaos in the streets of 15th Century Florence involving the legendary Medici family. I feel she’s pushed herself fairly farther with this book than in her others, allowing the part of her muse who enjoys horror, and causing some blood to fly, to push up onto the page. It makes for a good opening start that draws you into the story and the mystery and keeps you captivated.
Amid this turmoil, five women painters, led by the amazing Leonardo Da Vinci, are honing their art in secret as this is a time when women in the arts was not allowed or at the least ever appreciated. These female characters are the focus of the novel, with Da Vinci playing a supporting role. We learn about their painting, with overall Morin providing much descriptive detail of the time period too, and about their lives and interpersonal relations with each other. All of them are quite dimensional and built to full complex character.
Morin gives art history lovers, and art in general, wonderful details to be obsessed with as well as creates for us a perfect atmosphere of Florence and the area as the girls become amateur sleuths as well.
The suspense and conspiracy plot of the novel was also superb and it was entertaining in all its layers and sub-stories. This is the work of a seasoned novelist to provide such substance and action.
Obviously if you are historical buff or readers, you’ll also find that she has heavily researched not only the art and the times, but everything of historical record and given us accurate and logical reasoning so that we can fully immerse in the past.
I highly recommend this new more visceral and authentic method of writing by Morin, which she easily juxtaposes with her graceful phrasing and details. Well-written and dramatic! I look forward to the rest of her Da Vinci Disciples books!
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
Portrait of a Conspiracy is a bit different in overall to her other works in French or Italian courts, but she is no newbie to intrigue, spies, art or all of that sort of suspense and culture that makes me want to read books.
In this book, Donna begins it in brutal form with a murder and chaos in the streets of 15th Century Florence involving the legendary Medici family. I feel she’s pushed herself fairly farther with this book than in her others, allowing the part of her muse who enjoys horror, and causing some blood to fly, to push up onto the page. It makes for a good opening start that draws you into the story and the mystery and keeps you captivated.
Amid this turmoil, five women painters, led by the amazing Leonardo Da Vinci, are honing their art in secret as this is a time when women in the arts was not allowed or at the least ever appreciated. These female characters are the focus of the novel, with Da Vinci playing a supporting role. We learn about their painting, with overall Morin providing much descriptive detail of the time period too, and about their lives and interpersonal relations with each other. All of them are quite dimensional and built to full complex character.
Morin gives art history lovers, and art in general, wonderful details to be obsessed with as well as creates for us a perfect atmosphere of Florence and the area as the girls become amateur sleuths as well.
The suspense and conspiracy plot of the novel was also superb and it was entertaining in all its layers and sub-stories. This is the work of a seasoned novelist to provide such substance and action.
Obviously if you are historical buff or readers, you’ll also find that she has heavily researched not only the art and the times, but everything of historical record and given us accurate and logical reasoning so that we can fully immerse in the past.
I highly recommend this new more visceral and authentic method of writing by Morin, which she easily juxtaposes with her graceful phrasing and details. Well-written and dramatic! I look forward to the rest of her Da Vinci Disciples books!
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
June 2, 2016
The book follows 5 women who want to be artists in a time when it was impossible. One of their friends goes missing and when Giuliano de Medici has been murdered the city goes into chaos. Then women get help from Leonardo Da Vinci, trying to find their friend.
I really loved this book and it was hard to put down. I just wanted to know what happens next!
The women all have different kind of lives with their secrets but their love of arts unites them. I loved that while Leonardo Da Vinci is there he’s still a minor character and the women have the center stage.
The book is told by various points of views but it was easy to follow.
I’m glad this is part of a series and I can’t wait for the next book and learn more about these women!
I really loved this book and it was hard to put down. I just wanted to know what happens next!
The women all have different kind of lives with their secrets but their love of arts unites them. I loved that while Leonardo Da Vinci is there he’s still a minor character and the women have the center stage.
The book is told by various points of views but it was easy to follow.
I’m glad this is part of a series and I can’t wait for the next book and learn more about these women!
March 9, 2016
Incredibly atmospheric, with excellent character development. This intense story will be a big hit with people who love Renaissance historical fiction or are just fans of stories of strong women. The only reason this didn't get four stars from me had to do with a plot twist in the last half of the book ( ).
**I received this copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
**I received this copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
January 6, 2016
A 15th century Florence of exquisite art, sensual passion and sudden, remorseless violence comes vividly to life in Donna Russo Morin's new novel. Famous people from history such as Leonardo da Vinci are made dimensional and human in this suspenseful story, but the characters who are the most unforgettable are a group of women artists, driven by their own longings, who find courage they never knew they had as they struggle to survive one of the city's most harrowing periods.
April 14, 2019
This book combines a gripping plot, strong female characters, and incredible detail about politics in Florence during the Renaissance. It is an enjoyable read.
The writing style has an old-fashioned flavor which may not be to everyone's taste.
The writing style has an old-fashioned flavor which may not be to everyone's taste.
October 11, 2020
Всеки, който ме познава поне малко знае, че обожавам Италия и всичко свързано с тази държава и народът ѝ. В "Портрет на една Конспирация" действието се развива по времето на великите Медичи, Ренесансова Италия (по-точно република Флоренция 😌).
Имам много смесени чувства. Книгата започна добре - действието се развива бързо докато се стигне до основата на сюжета. След това аз имах чувството, че всичко се забавя. Действието започна да става леко скучно и придвидливо, някои постъпки на героините не ми бяха ясни и смея да призная - не разбирах защо ги извършват.
Открих, че това всъщност е трилогия, а не самостоятелна книга и с нетърпение ще очаквам следващите книги да бъдат издадени на български език, тъй като ми е интересно какво ще се случи по-нататък.
Няколко думи за героите - мисля, че харесах всичките мадони, макар Фиамета да ми изпилява нервите понякога. Любимки ще ми останат Вивиана и Метея, два изключително силни персонажа. Обожавам факта, че книгата е и историческа - Леонардо да Винчи, заговора на Паците срещу Медичите, всичко беше уникално.
Ако обичате Италия и история - това е книгата за вас 😁
Имам много смесени чувства. Книгата започна добре - действието се развива бързо докато се стигне до основата на сюжета. След това аз имах чувството, че всичко се забавя. Действието започна да става леко скучно и придвидливо, някои постъпки на героините не ми бяха ясни и смея да призная - не разбирах защо ги извършват.
Открих, че това всъщност е трилогия, а не самостоятелна книга и с нетърпение ще очаквам следващите книги да бъдат издадени на български език, тъй като ми е интересно какво ще се случи по-нататък.
Няколко думи за героите - мисля, че харесах всичките мадони, макар Фиамета да ми изпилява нервите понякога. Любимки ще ми останат Вивиана и Метея, два изключително силни персонажа. Обожавам факта, че книгата е и историческа - Леонардо да Винчи, заговора на Паците срещу Медичите, всичко беше уникално.
Ако обичате Италия и история - това е книгата за вас 😁
March 23, 2021
Started and finished in one day. Great story kept me interested from the very beginning to the very end
December 13, 2017
Нямах кой знае какви очаквания от книгата, но бях приятно сюрпризирана от майсторски разказаната история.
June 1, 2016
Intense brutality and chaos make the citizens of Florence in 15th Century Italy fearful but lead five women artists to unite against a secret enemy. Viviana, Fiammeta, Isabetta, Natasia and Mattea are painters and sculptors who practice in secret since women are forbidden to work as professional artists. They come from a variety of families, some noble and some poor merchants. When the Pazzi attempts to wrest power, with papal approval, from the noble rulers, the Medici family, a bloodbath follows, ending with the death of Giuliani Medici, revenge against the guilty and the innocent follows.
When a painting, The Feast of Herod, and a sixth women artist, Lapaccia, disappear at the same time, the woman is believed to be guilty of the Pazzi and Medici feud and a fierce search begins. Into the mix arrives Leonardo Da Vinci, anxious for revenge against those who killed his dear friend Giuliani but also deeply moved by the talent he recognizes when examining the works of these female artists willing to risk everything for love of their art. The ravages of such conflict is saved in this novel by the perfectly placed descriptions of beauty, strength, hope, reality, love and hate vividly displayed in each production observed, whether in progress or completed.
The remainder of the novel introduces the reader to a project these women believe will yield the plot behind all the increasing madness and conflict in Florence. Viviana’s story parallels the larger conflict but is depicted so starkly that one cannot help but root for her deliverance.
Da Vinci comes to realize that women are more in touch with their feelings and perceptions about familial and political events than any man could ever experience. He begins to teach them the skills he is admired for and the group becomes bonded to this Master. The ending leads the reader to know that this connection is only just beginning and all are grateful for the knowledge.
Portrait of a Conspiracy… is a stunning work of historical fiction that cannot be put down because it is so realistically and artistically captivating. One’s reluctance to read the last page is only modified by knowing more is to follow from this obviously highly skilled writer. This reviewer highly recommends that all read this review, enjoy the comments at the end of the story and share the delight with the Reader’s Guide which ends this first book of Da Vinci’s disciples. Stunning, passionate and memorable read!
When a painting, The Feast of Herod, and a sixth women artist, Lapaccia, disappear at the same time, the woman is believed to be guilty of the Pazzi and Medici feud and a fierce search begins. Into the mix arrives Leonardo Da Vinci, anxious for revenge against those who killed his dear friend Giuliani but also deeply moved by the talent he recognizes when examining the works of these female artists willing to risk everything for love of their art. The ravages of such conflict is saved in this novel by the perfectly placed descriptions of beauty, strength, hope, reality, love and hate vividly displayed in each production observed, whether in progress or completed.
The remainder of the novel introduces the reader to a project these women believe will yield the plot behind all the increasing madness and conflict in Florence. Viviana’s story parallels the larger conflict but is depicted so starkly that one cannot help but root for her deliverance.
Da Vinci comes to realize that women are more in touch with their feelings and perceptions about familial and political events than any man could ever experience. He begins to teach them the skills he is admired for and the group becomes bonded to this Master. The ending leads the reader to know that this connection is only just beginning and all are grateful for the knowledge.
Portrait of a Conspiracy… is a stunning work of historical fiction that cannot be put down because it is so realistically and artistically captivating. One’s reluctance to read the last page is only modified by knowing more is to follow from this obviously highly skilled writer. This reviewer highly recommends that all read this review, enjoy the comments at the end of the story and share the delight with the Reader’s Guide which ends this first book of Da Vinci’s disciples. Stunning, passionate and memorable read!
May 13, 2016
Portrait of Conspiracy A plot is afoot to murder the Medici's, members of the Pazzi (a banking family) family plot a conspiracy to assassinate Lorenzo de' Medici and his brother Giuliano to oust the Medici family as rulers of Florence. One of the Medici's survives and exacts revenge on the Pazzi family. Lorenzo survives and is out for revenge. Most of the conspirators were soon caught and executed; five, including Francesco de' Pazzi, were hanged from the windows of the Palazzo della Signoria. Five women, all friends, and artists, have to paint in secret and when one of the women disappears, supposedly also stealing a picture, they need to figure out what happened to her. They find out that the picture that is missing is a painting of the conspiracy and who was involved. To protect their friend, they set out to paint another painting like the first one. They all have sketches and with the help of Leonardo da Vinci, they create this painting. The women have to paint in secret as it is against the law for a woman to paint. Renaissance Florence is a conflicted place to live as the Medici's are large and in charge. As Portrait of Conspiracy continues the reader learns more about each of the women and how the strength of all of them, bring the men involved in the conspiracy to justice, all without the Medici's knowledge. A passage at the end of the book caught my eye and it is "Together, there is not a greater power than the strength of women bound to each other." A very true statement and one that these women firmly believe. I enjoy this time period in history in Europe, a time when women's worth depended on their dowry and whether they can give their husband's heirs. I love a story with a strong woman as the protagonist, but in this historical novel, there were five. Plus it was interesting learning about Leonardo da Vinci who played a big part also. This novel was very well researched and told about an actual conspiracy that took place in Medici's Florence.
July 10, 2016
Donna Russo Morin's The King's Agent remains one of my favorite historical novels so I was pretty excited when I heard about Portrait of a Conspiracy. Morin has a real knack for telling a great story with a good dose of adventure thrown in.
It's sometimes astonishing to realize that at one time women were forbidden to be publicly known as artists. And so, in the book we have a group of women who gather in secret to ply their craft. Little do they know that soon their secret society will be far more than just that. As Florence is thrown into chaos by the murder of Giuliano de Medici, the subsequent vengeance enacted by his brother, Lorenzo, and the untimely disappearance of their dear friend and member of their group, the women realize that they have the only means to discover the truth behind the fate of their friend. Aided by none other than Leonardo Da Vinci, they are soon mastering their art while also penetrating the secrets that abound in Florence. Exciting, to say the least.
Told from several points of view, I enjoyed the care with which each character was written. Each one has their cross to bear and I found myself easily identifying with them. Of course, my favorite was Leonardo. I have a fondness for this historical personage so his appearance in the book was a real treat.
Portrait of a Conspiracy is the first novel in the new Da Vinci's Disciples series, and I can't wait for book two. I highly recommend Morin's historical fiction. If you have not read her books, this would be a good one to start with.
(I received an eBook copy in exchange for an honest review)
It's sometimes astonishing to realize that at one time women were forbidden to be publicly known as artists. And so, in the book we have a group of women who gather in secret to ply their craft. Little do they know that soon their secret society will be far more than just that. As Florence is thrown into chaos by the murder of Giuliano de Medici, the subsequent vengeance enacted by his brother, Lorenzo, and the untimely disappearance of their dear friend and member of their group, the women realize that they have the only means to discover the truth behind the fate of their friend. Aided by none other than Leonardo Da Vinci, they are soon mastering their art while also penetrating the secrets that abound in Florence. Exciting, to say the least.
Told from several points of view, I enjoyed the care with which each character was written. Each one has their cross to bear and I found myself easily identifying with them. Of course, my favorite was Leonardo. I have a fondness for this historical personage so his appearance in the book was a real treat.
Portrait of a Conspiracy is the first novel in the new Da Vinci's Disciples series, and I can't wait for book two. I highly recommend Morin's historical fiction. If you have not read her books, this would be a good one to start with.
(I received an eBook copy in exchange for an honest review)
August 22, 2018
This is a great story! Especially for fans of historical fiction. It has everything: mystery, murder, romance, an abundance of Leonardo Da Vinci, and wonderful descriptions of a very unique time & place in history. The author has the quite unusual talent of painting a portrait of the era (pun intended). I especially enjoyed learning that much of Da Vinci's dialogue came from his actual writings, adding a pleasing sense of authenticity to his character.
I imagine it's not often one can write a sex scene AND a torture scene with equal proficiency, but Russo seems to have no problem working at both ends of human emotion. Carnal amusements aside, where the author really shines is her ability to transport you not only to a historical moment, but also inside the characters. While culture and technology of the period may provide the canvas, it's the people (particularly the women) and their stories that provide the color and prove to make this work memorable. Russo's talent seems to live at the crossroads of in-depth research, finely crafted skill, and what one can only assume is her own experience in life. This rare ability should be applauded. Simply stated, I'm a fan!
I imagine it's not often one can write a sex scene AND a torture scene with equal proficiency, but Russo seems to have no problem working at both ends of human emotion. Carnal amusements aside, where the author really shines is her ability to transport you not only to a historical moment, but also inside the characters. While culture and technology of the period may provide the canvas, it's the people (particularly the women) and their stories that provide the color and prove to make this work memorable. Russo's talent seems to live at the crossroads of in-depth research, finely crafted skill, and what one can only assume is her own experience in life. This rare ability should be applauded. Simply stated, I'm a fan!
November 3, 2016
I am a big history buff who loves reading murder mystery books, so this one was right up my ally. It had a great storyline with wonderful characters, and the writing style was amazing. I highly recommend this book!
March 1, 2017
Beautifully written. Looking forward to the sequel.
October 16, 2019
I love historical fiction and love art history, especially about DaVinci and his contemporaries. The first of this series combined these loves perfectly. Russo knows her stuff and I definitely look forward to it’s sequel and others to follow.
I also read Signora DaVinci which offered a wealth of knowledge regarding Leonardo and his relationship with the Medicis.
I also read Signora DaVinci which offered a wealth of knowledge regarding Leonardo and his relationship with the Medicis.
April 20, 2021
A very good mystery read about two things I love - The Italian Renaissance at the time of the Medici and women artists of that period. Although I think the women are totally fictional, the Medici, the time of the assassination attempt and of course Da Vinci aren't. It was a quick read and one I would recommend.
October 26, 2017
LOVED this book! Listened to it -- the narrator was fantastic -- putting life into an already engrossing book & story.
September 20, 2020
4,5 stars
January 12, 2022
Loved the richness of this book, it had everything great story based on a true event and interesting characters .
April 29, 2018
A captivating read of a portion of 15th century Florence at the time of the Pazzi Conspiracy which resulted in the assassination of Giuliano de Medici and wounding of his brother, Lorenzo de Medici.
July 1, 2019
Excellent characterization of the era and Florence at the time. Very engaging read, I very much look forward to Book two of DaVinci's Dsiciples.
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